Shillong, Sep 5: The Meghalaya government’s proposal to take on the responsibility of paying staff salaries in the three autonomous district councils in the state is not a long-term solution to the vexed issue of the financial health of the ADCs, the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary said today.
Wankitbok Pohshna said that the BJP is concerned about the financial crisis in the ADCs, especially the Garo Hills ADC where workers have been protesting the non-payment of 44 months’ worth of salaries.
Pohshna said that the BJP feels that the ADCs, the state government and central government should discuss the issue together and arrive at a solution to solve the financial problems the councils face.
“The three stakeholders should sit across the table and have threadbare discussions on any shortcomings that are there,” he added.
Pohshna said that the current proposal of the state government to bail out the GHADC and other ADCs by paying their salaries is one way of solving a solution but it cannot be a permanent solution.
“We have seen the state government have offered to pay the salaries. But if that’s done is that a good idea or will it bring some other issue? Like, as alleged, the state will control [the ADCs] – this will have to be discussed,” he added.
The BJP is a coalition member in the state government but only has one cabinet spot.
